Gaming monitors with 4K ultra HD and high refresh rates have historically been quite expensive, but the introduction of the Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS this year is challenging that notion, bringing competitive specs at a more budget-friendly price. Right now, the Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS is $382.99 (originally $499) after a 23% discount.
The ROG Strix XG27UCS is a 27-inch gaming monitor that was launched in March of this year. To get it down to its lower price (when compared to other gaming monitors) ASUS made cuts to RGB technology and a USB hub, which more premium gaming monitors will usually have. It still has the 160Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and 4K resolution you'd expect, though.
Because this is an IPS panel monitor, you won't get the true black that OLEDs offer. The contrast ratio for this monitor is close to 922:1 according to IGN's review, so black hues might look closer to dark gray.
You can change the settings and calibrate the settings to match specific games or genres. A cool touch is that it allows you to save profiles with customized settings so that you can easily switch between them if you jump from one game to another.
The stand's height, tilt, swivel, and pivot are all adjustable. You can also change the view from landscape to portrait, making it useful to people who also want to use it for work. One other feature that makes it work-friendly is a USB-C port that supports Display Port, meaning it's the only cable you'll need to hook up your laptop for video, audio, and charging (most modern laptops have this feature now). It also has a tray for a small device on the stand where you can prop your phone and a headphone jack for wired headphones or external speakers.